Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury shakes up the Gundam Universe (trailer).
Are you ready for a journey filled with mecha action and a female protagonist? Look no further! Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is here to bewitch fans and newcomers alike, as the latest entry in the legendary Gundam franchise.
The first season of this hit on October 2022 on JNN stations TBS and MBS, this mecha anime extravaganza is the first mainline Gundam TV anime production in seven years since Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans. With directors Hiroshi Kobayashi and Ryō Andō and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi at the helm, The Witch from Mercury dares to defy conventions, featuring the franchise’s first-ever female protagonist.
Set in the distant future, the story unfolds in a universe where humanity has colonized space and adopted the Ad Stella (AS) calendar system. The solar system is divided between the space-dwelling “Spacians” and Earth-born “Earthians,” with vast economic inequality between the two. The plot revolves around themes of emerging technologies, political corruption, capitalism, and revenge.
Enter Suletta Mercury, a 17-year-old female Spacian who transfers to the prestigious Asticassia School of Technology. Encountering the rebellious Miorine Rembran, daughter of the powerful Delling Rembran, Suletta is plunged into a world of mechs and forbidden technology. As she takes control of the Gundam Aerial, a mobile suit built with the outlawed GUND Format, she must navigate her new life and uncover the secrets of the GUND Format.
With a dazzling cast of characters and a gripping storyline, The Witch from Mercury is an anime series you won’t want to miss. Not only is the series a visual treat, but the music also delivers a powerful punch. Yoasobi performs the series’ first opening theme “Shukufuku” (祝福, “The Blessing”), and yama lends their talent for the second opening theme, “slash.” Shiyui and Ryo create the perfect ending with their theme “Kimi yo Kedakaku Are” (君よ 気高くあれ, “You Be Noble”).
The Witch from Mercury has also stirred up conversation with its English dub, which premiered on Crunchyroll in January 2023. Controversy arose around the casting of Jill Harris as the voice of Suletta Mercury, sparking discussions about diversity in voice acting.
The second season’s story picks up in the year A.S. 122, a time when numerous corporations have ventured into space, constructing a vast economic system. After transferring to the Asticassia School of Technology from Mercury, Suletta Mercury finds herself immersed in a whirlwind of encounters and exhilaration as both Miorine Rembran’s bridegroom and a member of GUNDAM-ARM, Inc.
As two weeks pass since the dramatic incident at Plant Quetta, Suletta spends her days at school eagerly awaiting her reunion with Miorine. Miorine, on the other hand, has taken up residence at the Benerit Group’s head office, keeping a close eye on her father’s condition. The girls are soon faced with new challenges and critical decisions. Armed with their own thoughts and emotions, they prepare to confront the powerful curse that the Gundam brings.
The US premiere of season two streams on April 9th, 2023, on Crunchyroll.
